The NHL’s most wanted: Try to keep up

NHL Playoffs 2012: War zone tough to keep an eye on

Admit it, you have already lost track. You have mixed up some of the elbows with some of the charging penalties, and confused some of the player ejections, names and teams. It has become hard work, keeping up with the various offences players have committed on one another in the first round of the playoffs.

NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan has already issued supplemental discipline to some transgressors, while it appears others will only have to live with the shame of being morally wrong in their actions. Here is a list of more than a dozen questionable plays already this spring:

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Shea Weber, NashvilleApril 11, Game 1, Detroit at Nashville
On opening night, Weber takes exception to hit from Henrik Zetterberg and twice tries to ram Zetterberg’s head into the glass. The impact of the second attempt cracks Zetterberg’s helmet.Verdict Weber fined US$2,500.

Byron Bitz, VancouverApril 11, Game 1, Los Angeles at Vancouver
Bitz steams into Kyle Clifford from behind, driving the forward face-first into the glass. Clifford leaves the game and, as of Tuesday, the series.Verdict Bitz suspended two games.

Matt Carkner, OttawaApril 14, Game 2, Ottawa at N.Y. Rangers
Carkner attacks Brian Boyle, who does not drop his gloves. Carkner continues punching as the two hit the ice. Boyle had punched Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson in Game 1.Verdict Carkner suspended one game.

Chris Phillips, OttawaApril 14, Game 2, Ottawa at N.Y. Rangers
In the final minute of the first period, Phillips appears to leave his skates to hit Rangers captain Ryan Callahan along the boards. He receives an elbowing minor.Verdict No fine, no suspension.

Carl Hagelin, N.Y. RangersApril 14, Game 2, Ottawa at N.Y. Rangers
Hagelin drives his elbow into Daniel Alfredsson’s head along the glass. Alfredsson, who suffered a concussion against New York in October, misses Game 3 with another concussion.Verdict Hagelin suspended three games.

Andrew Shaw, ChicagoApril 14, Game 2, Chicago at Phoenix
Just as Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith plays the puck behind the net, Shaw sends him flying with a shoulder to the head. Shaw is assessed a charging major and a game misconduct.Verdict Shaw suspended three games.

Brent Burns, San JoseApril 14, Game 2, San Jose at St. Louis
With the play nearing the blue line, Burns targets Scott Nichol’s head with his right elbow and finds his mark. He receives a two-minute minor for roughing.Verdict No fine, no suspension.

T.J. Galiardi, San JoseApril 14, Game 2, San Jose at St. Louis
St. Louis’s Andy McDonald has his head down as the puck comes around the boards. Galiardi, circling to the boards, leaves his feet on the hit. Galiardi receives a charging minor.Verdict No fine, no suspension.

James Neal, PittsburghApril 15, Game 3, Pittsburgh at Philadephia
With the puck having long left his vicinity, Flyers forward Sean Couturier is blindsided. Neal takes a long run at the rookie. Neal appears to leave his feet to emphasize the hit.

James Neal, PittsburghApril 15, Game 3, Pittsburgh at Philadephia
Thirty seconds after hitting Couturier, Neal leaves his feet again to hit Claude Giroux in the back of the head. Giroux, who has a concussion history, wobbles on his feet.Verdict One-game suspension covering both incidents.

Arron Asham, PittsburghApril 15, Game 3, Pittsburgh at Philadephia
After Brayden Schenn delivers a hit on Penguins defenceman Paul Martin along the boards, Asham responds with a cross-check to Schenn’s face. Asham is immediately ejected from the game.Verdict Four-game suspension.

Johan Franzen, DetroitApril 15, Game 3, Nashville at Detroit.
From the Nashville bench, David Legwand agitates Franzen by tugging on his jersey. Franzen is indeed agitated, and spears Legwand, earning a minor for slashing.Verdict No fine, no suspension.

Jason Chimera, WashingtonApril 16, Game 3, Boston at Washington
With a referee standing between them in a bit of a scrum, Chimera appears to flick his stick to slash Marchand in the midsection. Marchand falls to the ice, dramatically.Verdict No report of punishment.

Nicklas Backstrom, WashingtonApril 16, Game 3, Boston at Washington
Boston’s Rich Peverley appears to trip Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin on his way back up ice, and Backstrom responds by cross-checking Peverley in the face. Backstrom receives a match penalty.Verdict One-game suspension.

Raffi Torres, PhoenixApril 17, Game 3, Phoenix at Chicago
The Coyotes’ forward appears to launch himself into a check against the Blackhawks’ Marian Hossa, who had just made a pass at centre ice. Torres was not penalized. Hossa was removed from the ice on a stretcher.Verdict Has not been determined.